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The city unveiled more details about its 2026 FIFA World Cup fan festival set up on Monday, days after reversing course on plans to charge visitors an admission fee for the space. A curated beverage program, 30 food vendors and live music will be taking over The Bentway and the Fort York National Historic Site for 22 days starting June 11, when Mexico and South Africa face off in the first of the tournament's 104 matches. Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow reiterated that tickets to the fan festival will be free. Earlier this month, the city came under fire after it proposed charging for tickets even though it had initially promised they would be free.
"From the opening match to the final, this is where Toronto comes together,” said Chow, speaking at a news conference at Fort York National Historic Site. Here's what you need to know about the festival: If it's free, can I just show up?No. You will have to reserve a ticket online through Ticketmaster. The city said tickets will go on sale May 6. There will also be a portion of tickets that you can pay for, which the city said will offer perks like expedited entry, dedicated viewing areas for the games and "additional" amenities. 500 tickets will also be reserved each day for local community groups.
What games will be played at the fan fest?A total of 46 matches will be shown across live viewing screens set up at The Bentway and Fort York. You can see which matches will be shown here. If you really want to get in on the action, in addition to multiple smaller screens the main stage of the festival will feature a nearly 40-foot-wide TV screen. What else will there be, aside from screens to watch the games?The city said 30 food vendors will be set up at the festival featuring a "dynamic mix" of street food alongside a "curated" beverage program. The space will be divided into 13 zones that will feature a FIFA store, an Indigenous market with a family-friendly play area, a custom soccer mini-pitch and a lineup of over 75 local GTA and Ontario artists including: Multiple performances will also be organized by Toronto hip-hop star Kardinal Offishall with a collective of the city's top DJs and "special guests," according to the city's new release. The Bentway will also feature curated art work that will explore the theme of "fandom," according to the organization's news release. Some of the installations will be interactive and include a shipping container turned into a recording studio, a lounge area constructed from soccer balls and netting, and flag installations along The Bentway's skate trail that respond to human touch.
Will there be parking?No. There will be no general parking available, according to Sharon Bollenbach, the executive director for the World Cup in Toronto. Bollenbach said the city is taking a "transit-first approach," with public transit, cycling and walking encouraged. The city plans to support traffic in the area with a mobility plan it unveiled last month.
来源链接：https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/toronto-fifa-world-cup-fan-festival-sneak-peek-9.7178713 |
